Cuticular hydrocarbons ofReticulitermes virginicus (Banks) and their role as potential species- and caste-recognition cues

The cuticular hydrocarbon components of four castes ofReticulitermes virginicus (Banks) have been identified and quantitated. Components identified includen-alkanes; 2-, 3-, 11-, 13-, and 15-methyl-alkanes; 11,15-dimethylalkanes, (Z)-9-alkenes; (Z,Z)-7,9-dienes; and (E/Z)-6,9-dienes ranging in carbon number from C₂₁ to C₄₀. All caste forms ofR.virginicus contained the same components, but showed caste-specific proportions. Comparison of these hydrocarbons with those of the sympatric termiteR. flavipes (Kollar) suggest that cuticular hydrocarbons might serve as species- and caste-recognition cues. A bioassay was developed to test this species-recognition hypothesis, with the experimental results supporting the hypothesis.Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae.     

Trail-following pheromones of the rhinotermitidae: Approaches to their authentication and specificity

A method for determining the authenticity of subterranean termite trail pheromones is suggested and utilized to verify the presence of trail pheromones inReticulitermes virginicus, R. flavipes, andR. tibialis. In addition, a possible trail pheromone has been demonstrated forCoptotermes formosanus. A choice bioassay method shows that the above trail pheromones are species specific.     

一株白僵菌的分离鉴定及对黄胸散白蚁的室内毒力测定

从罹病的玉米螟(Ostrinia furnacalis G)中分离纯化获得一株新菌株,命名为Bb-1。通过对该菌株的培养性状、形态特征观察,以及ITS基因序列分析,鉴定出Bb-1菌株为白僵菌属的球孢白僵菌(Beauveria bassiana)。用该菌株的5种浓度孢子液对黄胸散白蚁进行毒力试验。结果表明:用浓度为5×10~7孢子/mL的孢子液处理8d,黄胸散白蚁的校正死亡率达95.00%。5~8d的LC_(50)值为2.05×10~4~9.05×10~6孢子/mL。在5×10~3~5×10~7孢子/mL浓度下,菌株的LT_(50)值为4.28~8.59d。     

Chemical Ecological Characteristics of Herbivory of Siparuna guianensis Seeds by Buffy-Headed Marmosets (Callithrix flaviceps) in the Atlantic Forest of Southeastern Brazil

The buffy-headed marmoset (Callithrix flaviceps) is apparently the only predispersal herbivore of the seeds of Siparuna guianensis at the Caratinga Biological Station in southeastern Brazil. Both the fruit receptacles and the frutioles (seeds) of S. guianensis are relatively rich in nutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids, but the receptacles contain high concentrations of benzylisoquinoline alkaloids. The latter presumably act as a qualitative chemical defense, impeding the access of potential predators to the alkaloid-poor frutioles. However, on ripening, the receptacle splits open, exposing the frutioles, which enables C. flaviceps to avoid the plant's chemical defenses effectively. Taking care to avoid contact with the receptacle, the marmosets pluck out the frutioles and ingest the seeds. Qualitative and quantitative changes (in particular a significant reduction in daily ranging) in the marmosets' behavior during the period when S. guianensis frutioles were accessible indicate that this was a preferred plant resource. This is the first record of the consumption of S. guianensis seeds by callitrichine monkeys (which are not known to be systematic seed eaters), despite the fact that both are widely distributed in the Neotropics. It is thus possible that the behavioral strategy observed here is a unique phenomenon resulting from a specific combination of factors, including the abundance of S. guianensis within the study area. The lack of other records may nevertheless be a result of insufficient sampling effort, in which case, the feeding strategies of callitrichines may have an important influence on the reproductive biology of S. guianensis in many areas.     

Cuticular hydrocarbons of the eastern subterranean termite,Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

Major cuticular hydrocarbon components in several castes ofReticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) have been identified and quantitated. Types of hydrocarbons present includen-alkanes, 2-methylalkanes, 3-methylalkanes, 5-methylalkanes, an alkene, and an alkadiene, with a range in carbon numbers from C₂₁ to C₂₆, This is the first report on insect cuticular hydrocarbons in which both 2- and 3-methylalkanes are present, as well as the first report of an insect with a conjugated alkadiene.     

氟虫胺纸片在城市房屋散白蚁灭治中的研究

目的：寻找替代灭蚁灵的高效环保型灭治剂，破解城市房屋散白蚁灭治难题；方法：用含氟虫胺有效成份0．01％的诱饵纸片进行诱杀灭治处理；结果：散白蚁普遍取食诱饵纸片，诱杀速度较快，灭治效果好；结论：氟虫胺可以替代灭蚁灵作为诱饵的毒剂，诱杀灭治技术是城市房屋散白蚁灭治的新选择。     

白蚁种间及种内群体的相容性初步研究

室内观察表明,家白蚁与肢散白蚁以及家白蚁不同种群之间缺乏相容性。它们碰在一起就格斗不止,最后造成双方重大死亡。据此提出了如何利用这种习性来达到控制白蚁危害的新思路。     

Behavior and survival ofReticulitermes hesperus banks (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) on selected sawdusts and wood extracts

Survival ofReticulitermes hesperus workers was assessed inPseudotsuga menziesii, Lysiloma seemanii, andTabebuia ochracea sawdusts; and on heartwood solvent extracts ofP. menziesii, L. seemanii, T. ochracea, Pinus ponderosa, Tabebuia guayacan, and aCentrolobium species. Survival inP. menziesii sawdust was 100% at 5 days and 81–87% at 15 days. Survival inL. seemanii andT. ochracea sawdusts was significantly less over both 5 and 15 days than in the starvation control, indicating toxicity. Survival on filter papers treated with solvent extracts ofT. ochracea andP. ponderosa was significantly less than that on control papers, but onlyP. ponderosa differed significantly from the starvation control. In behavioral assays with groups and with individualR. hesperus workers, extracts ofP. menziesii andP. ponderosa were preferred. In the individual behavioral assays, extracts ofT. guayacan andT. ochracea were repellent. Results of toxicity assays were not predictable from preference assays.     

Major antitermitic components of the heartwood of southern catalpa

The heartwood of southern catalpa,Catalpa bignonioides Walt., is resistant to attack by the eastern subterranean termiteReticulitermes flavipes (Kollar), but extraction with a ternary solvent mixture of acetone-hexanewater (54442) by volume removed the antitermitic characteristics from the heartwood. Four compounds comprised approximately 98% of the antitermitic fraction of the extract: the sesquiterpene alcohol, catalponol (67%); its epimer, epicatalponol (5%); a structurally related ketone, catalponone (1%); and the phthalide, catalpalactone (25%). Pure compounds were isolated by semipreparative scale reversed-phase HPLC and identified by GC-MS and UV spectroscopy. The structure of catalponol was further confirmed by the formation of derivatives. Bioassays indicated that catalponol had the greatest toxicity in cellulose pad tests, but in tests using vacuum impregnation of these compounds into termite-susceptible wood blocks at levels approximating those found in catalpa heartwood, catalpalactone exhibited the highest antitermitic activity.     

Structure-activity relationships among aromatic analogs of trail-following pheromone of subterranean termites

A series of 12 substituted (Z)-4-phenyl-3-buten-l-ol (PBO) derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for trail-following activity in five species of subterranean termites in the generaCoptotermes, Prorhinotermes, Reticulitermes, andSchedorhinotermes (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). The unsubstituted parent PBO was the most active for all species, and electron-withdrawing and electron-donating groups both reduced potency. Sensitivity to substitution in the ortho position suggests steric inhibition of binding by the 2-substituted analogs. Different sensitivities to these pheromone analogs were found among the five species, withR.flavipes andS. lamanianus showing the highest level of trail-following activity for the PBO analogs.Fellow of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation (1981–85) and Camille and Henry Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar (1981–86).